Well boring apparatus



R. L. ARTERBURY 2,091,023 WELLBORING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1937 V a V 3 a ,IAAI r T .E N 1 a a, Y 3 7 V y g 1 L a m 6 M 4 2 \\\\\w/%A ,2 I2 \2 a J 3 Aug. 24, 1937.

Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES WELL BORING APPARATUS -Roy L. Arterbury, Houston, Tex. Application April 14, 1937, Serial No. 136,915

Claims. (01. 2 55 24) This invention relates to an apparatusfor use in boring wells, but more particularly to a novel means associated with a boring tool for providing a fluid'circulationto and from the working 5 end of such tools for removing the borings.

1 The main object of the invention is to provide a means which is operative to produce a continuous one directional circulation of a fluid mass through certain pipes used in boring a well.

Another object is to dispense with the use of the mud-pump and related apparatus now in common use by modifying the drill pipe and related apparatus in a manner to permit the drill pipe itself to function in the manner of a fluid A further object is to provide, in a boring tool. a fluid circulatory means which is simple, practical and economical, and which may be readily installed and operated.

According to this invention, a one-way fluid outlet or exhaust valve is provided within a drill pipe and the upper end of the pipe is connected by a. conduit, flexible all or in part, which is arranged to discharge into a sump or reservoir. A return conduit is arranged to drawfluid from this reservoir and deliver this fluid to the space provided between'the drill pipe and the borecasing pipe. This return conduit is provided with a one-way intake valve which is effective to prevent flow of fluid from the bore hole towards the reservoir. When it is desired to circulate the fluid, the drill pipe is reciprocated up and down. During the upward travel of the drill pipe, a vacuum tends to formbetween the drill pipe and bore-casing pipe, which vacuum is effective to simultaneously cause or permit re-- moval of a quantity'of liquid from the bore hole and a replacement of an equal quantity of fluid which is drawn into the bore hole from the reservoir or supply tank. During the downward travel of the drill pipe, a corresponding or equal quantity of liquid is ejected or forced from the bore hole upwardly past the exhaust valve in the drill pipe.

For a detailed description of the apparatus set forth and operation thereof, reference is made to the specification which follows and accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a unitary stuffing box and fluid inlet;

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of outlet valve; and

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of inlet valve.

Referring to the'drawing for details, a conventional well rig l is shown in position tosupport a drill pipe 2 by means of a rod 3, a hook 4 and clevis 5. The upper end 'of pipe 2 is shown as connected through a flexible conduit 6 to a rigid conduit 1 which feeds into a sediment or mud trap 8. The liquid, afterjbeing freed of excess sediment or borings, passes through a pipe 9 into. a reservoir or basin. Ill.

Any well known'means is provided to raise and lower the rod 3 and drill pipe 2. Numeral I l indicates a common form of rotary table which is operative to rotate the drill. An essential and important feature of this invention comprises a unitary stufiingbox and inlet head l2 shown in detail in Fig. 2. The stufiing bo'x proper is shown at l3 as surrounding the drill. A metal threaded ring I4 is arranged to support the outside bore'casing l5 and a second metal threaded' ring l6 isarranged to support the inner bore casing l'l. -':-One or more fluid inlet pipes I8, I8 are provided to supply fluid to the space between drill 2 and easing I'l. Gaskets l9 are provided to effectively seal the chambers between drill 2 and-casings l5, l1 against leaks of fluid or air therefrom to the outside space except in and out of conduits arranged for normal flow. A series of bolts 20 are provided to secure the parts described in close engagement. 'Theinlet pipes l8 are connected by a conduit 2| to the reservoir A cement plug 22 is set at the bottom of bore casing l5 to prevent interference from surface' elements. If desired, the pipe l8 properly valved may serve as a gas exhaust from the bore hole. l

A ball check or'one-way valve 23 is provided within drill pipe 2. The ball 24'is adapted to seat by gravity in its lower position'to close the drill pipe. This ball is free to move upwardly against a cross-bar 25 when the drill pipe is lowered to permit liquid to flow upwardly.

A similar ball check or non-return valve. 26 is provided in conduit 2|. The valve ball 21 is arranged to seatat its extreme right hand position to close the conduit 2| and prevent fluid from flowing back to reservoir Ill when the drill is being lowered. The'ball 21 may move to its left in Fig. 1 against cross-bar 28 to permit liquid to be drawn from the reservoir when the drill pipe is being elevated.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of exhaust valve 29 particularly adapted to handle larger sizes of borings or debris. The valve 29 is pivoted at 30 and a spring 3| is arranged to bias the valve to its closed position. A modified form of inlet PATENT OFFICE.

. tages of such prior vaive32is shown in Fig. 4. The valve 32 is pivoted at 33 and a spring 34 is provided to bias this valve to its closed position. When a valve such as 29 is used, it will be placed at the outlet end of conduit '1.

In the operation of the apparatus described, when it is desired to remove accumulated debris or borings from around the drill tip, the rod 3 is caused to reciprocate up and down a desired amount. Any well known means may be used to produce such motion such as a simple first class leveror Walking beam connectedat one end to rod 3 and at its free end to an operating link driven from the machine that operates the rotary ll. When pipe 2 is moving up, ball 23 is seated. Due to a vacuumiorming within casing pipe l1 and drill pipe 2, fluid will be retained within pipe 2 below ball 24 and aquantity of fluid will be drawn in from conduits l8 and 2| equal in amount to that lifted by pipe 2. When the drill pipe 2 is moved downwardly,

no fluidwill be permitted topass back to reservoir l0 because valve 26 will 'close with the result that fluid in pipe 2 will be'iorced up along and above the valve 23 in, a manner to discharge through conduits 6 and l to reservoir 10. The amount of fluid taken in and discharged during each up and down stroke will equalthe displacement volume of the drill in the. fluid. -As long as drill pipe 2 is recip'rocated, a one-way circulation of fluid will be maintainedfrom reservoir ill by way of pipes 2|, i8 and [1, up through drill pipe 2, and conduits I back to reservoir l0.

In prior art devices such as shown in Patent No. 260,483, issued to C. H. Leach, a check valve is positioned at the lower end of the drill. In such position, the valve operation is not satisfactory due, in part, to presence of heavy boring particles and lack of suflicient velocity of fluid.

According to British Patent No. 1,450 of 1858,

itis proposed to arrange a piston on and around the drill pipe-and position check valves therein. Such a piston is not readily accessible and is costly to install andmaintain in view or excessive wear thereon not to mention loss of efliciency due to fluid leakage around the piston. A piston of this type is subject also to excessive wear due to rotation of the drill pipe during boring. According to the present invention, the disadvanart devices are entirely eliminated. Y Y

I claim:

1. In a device for drilling in combination, a tubular drill pipe, afluid discharge conduit connected to the upper end of said pipe, an exhaust check valve positioned to intercept fluid flow through said pipe and conduit and directed to permit fluid flow upwardly only through said pipe, a bore casing surrounding said pipe, means for providing a fluid tight seal between the upper end of said casing and drill, a source of fluid supply, a conduit connecting said fluid supply to the space within said casing, a check valve associated with said last-named conduit and being formed and directed to permit fluid flow from said source to said space but not in a reverse direction, said valves being respectively arranged to alternately close and open upon reciprocation of said drill pipe.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exhaust check valve is positioned within the drill pipe a substantial distance above the lower end thereof.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exhaust check valve is positioned adjacent the free end of the fluid discharge conduit.

4; In a device for drilling a vertical bore hole, a tubular drill pipe, a bore casing surrounding and spaced from said pipe, means providing a liquid seal between the upper end of'said casing and said pipe, a conduit for supplying fluid to the space within said casing, an inlet check valve operatively associated with said conduit, an exhaust check valve associated with said drill pipe and being positioned abovethe lower end thereof for controlling fluid flow therethrough, said in-. letvalve being. arranged to open to pass liquid to said space under suction due to displacement of the drill in an upward direction, said-exhaust check valve being arranged to be closed during upward movement oithe drill. i

5. In a device for drilling a vertical bore hole,

upon being moved upwardly tending to produce a vacuum within said space, said vacuum being effective to open the inlet valve and draw in fluid through-said conduit, said exhaust valve simultaneously therewith being held in closed position by said vacuum and fluid head in said pipe; said exhaust and inlet valves respectively being moved to open and closed positions during return movement of the drill pipe to its lowered position whereby a quantity ofv fluid in said space is displaced to a position above said exhaust valve. p 1

ROY L. ARTERBURY. 

